Uses of Future Tense

THE FUTURE

There are several ways of talking about the future in English: The Simple Future Tense, the going to form, the Simple Present Tense, etc.

Simple future tense

The Simple Future Tense is used to talk about things which we cannot control. It expresses the future as fact.

I shall be twenty next Saturday. It will be Diwali in a week.

We will know our exam results in May.

We use this tense to talk about what we think or believe will happen in the future. I think Pakistan will win the match.

I'm sure Helen will get a first class.

As in the above sentences, we often use this tense with I think, and I'm sure. We also say I expect ---, I believe ---, Probably ---, etc.

We can use this tense when we decide to do something at the lime of speaking It is raining. I will take an umbrella.

“Mr. Sinha is very busy at the moment.” – “All right. I'll wait.”

Going to

We use the going to form (be going to + base of the verb) when we have decided to do something before talking about it.

“Have you decided what to do?” – “Yes. / am going to resign the job.” “Why do you want to sell your motorbike?” – “I'm going to buy a car.”

Remember that if the action is already decided upon and preparations have been made, we should use the going to form, not the Simple Future Tense. The Simple Future Tense is used for an instant decision.

We also use the going to form to talk about what seems likely or certain, when there is something in the present which tells us about the future.

            It is going to rain; look at those clouds.

            The boat is full of water. It is going to sink.

            She is going to have a baby.

The going to form may also express an action which is on the point of happening.

Let's get into the train. It's going to leave.

Look! The cracker is going to explode.

Be about to

Be about to + base form can also be used for the immediate future. Let's get into the train. It's about to leave.

Don't go out now. We are about to have lunch.

Simple Present Tense

The Simple Present Tense is used for official programmes and timetables. The college opens on 23rd June.

The film starts at 6.30 and finishes at 9.00. When does the next train leave for Chennai?

The Simple Present is often used for future time in clauses with if, unless, when, while, as (= while) before, after, until, by the time and as soon as. The Simple Future Tense is not used in such cases.

I won't go out if it rains, (not: will rain) Can I have some milk before I go to bed? Let's wait till he finishes his work. Please ring me up as soon as he comes.

Present Continuous Tense

We use the Present Continuous Tense when we talk about something that we have planned to do in the future.

I am going to Shimla tomorrow. We are eating out tonight.

Mr. Abdul Rehman is arriving this evening.

You are advised to use the Present Continuous (not the Simple Present) for personal arrangements.

Future Continuous Tense

We use the Future Continuous Tense to talk about actions which will be in progress at a time in the future.

I suppose it will he raining when we start.

This time tomorrow I will be sitting on the beach in Singapore.

“Can I see you at 5 o'clock?” – “Please don t come then I will be watching the tennis match on TV.

We also use this tense to talk about actions in the future which are already planned or which are expected to happen in the normal course of things.

            I will be staying here till Sunday.

            He will be meeting us next week.

            The postman will be coming soon

Be to

We use be to + .base form to talk about official plans and arrangements. The Prime Minister is to visit America next month.

The conference is to discuss “Nuclear Tests”.

Be to is used in a formal style, often in news reports Be is usually left out in headlines, e.g. “Prime Minister to visit America”.

Future Perfect Tense

The Future Perfect Tense is used to talk about actions that will be completed by a certain future time.

I shall have written my exercise by then.

He will have left before you go to see him.

By the end of this month I will have worked here for five years.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

The Future Perfect Continuous tense is used for actions which will be in progress over a period of time that will end in the future.

By next March we shall have been living here for four years.

I’ll have been teaching for twenty years next July.

This tense is not very common.

Exercise in Composition

Choose the correct or more suitable forms of the verbs to fill in the blanks:-

The plane --- at 3.30. (arrives, will arrive)

I will phone you when he --- back, (comes, will come)

When I get home, my dog --- at the gate waiting for me. (sits, will be sitting)

I --- the Joshis this evening, (visit, am visiting)

    Look at those black clouds. It ---, (will rain, is going to rain)

The train --- before we reach the station, (arrives, will have arrived)

Perhaps we --- Mahabaleshwar next month, (visit, will visit)

Unless we --- now we can't be on time, (start, will start)

I --- into town later on. Do you want a lift? (drive, will be driving)

The next term --- on 16th November, (begins, is beginning)

Oh dear! I --- (will sneeze, am going to sneeze)

By 2005, computers --- many of the jobs that people do today, (will be taking over, will have taken over)

I'm sure she --- the exam, (passes, will pass)

I --- home next Sunday, (go, am going)

I --- you one of these days, I expect, (see, will be seeing)

Help! I --- fall, (will fall, am going to fall)

She has bought some cloth; she --- herself a blouse, (will make, is going to make)

I --- your house this afternoon. It is on my way home from work, (will be passing, am passing)

Hurry up! The programme --- (will start, is about to start)

This book is not long. I --- it by lunch time, (will be reading, will have read)